Riot breaks out at Florida juvenile detention facility

Sunday

Aug 18, 2013 at 9:47 AM

Associated Press

Several teens were treated for minor injuries after a riot broke out at a male juvenile detention facility in Avon Park.

Polk County Sheriff's Office responded to the Avon Park Youth Academy Saturday night along with SWAT and K-9 teams. It's unclear what started the riot, but authorities say a fire was set in a dumpster.

Deputies said five or six youths were transported to the hospital for minor injuries. No staffers were injured during the riot.

The Department of Juvenile Justice oversees the facility.

According to its website, the facility is a 144-bed moderate-risk program for males in the juvenile justice system between the ages of 16 and 19-years-old. Teens are taught job skills and receive mental health and substance abuse treatment.

An email to program officials and DJJ was not immediately returned Sunday.